Catopuma is the sister group to Profelis aurata according to Bininda-Emonds et al. (1999); however, Mattern and McLennan (2000) placed it next to more typical Felis. McKenna and Bell (1997) placed it in Felis (Profelis). Bininda-Emonds et al. (1999) and Mattern and McLennan (2000) demonstrated that C. badia and C. temmincki are sister taxa.